Fastening device



May 13, 1952 o. J. POUPITCH FASTENING DEVICE Original Filed Sept. 1, 1948 Patented May 13, 1952 UNITED STATES FASTENING DEVICE Ougljesa Jules Poupitch, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Illinois Tool Works, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Original application September 1, 1948, Serial No. 47,245, now Patent No. 2,515,895, dated July 18, 1950. Divided and this application June 24, 1950, Serial No. 170,144

6 Claims.

. secure molding strips in place, and many of such fasteners are designed to accommodate a given width of molding strip and are adapted for use only with a strip of given width. It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide an improved fastener or clip of extremely simple and inexpensive construction, namely, from spring strip stock, which is selfadjustable to accommodate molding strips of various widths.

More specifically, the invention contemplates improved fasteners of the type referred to above,

wherein a strip of spring stock is so formed that the flat side of the strip at one extremity is adapted to engage one wall of a molding strip, and the opposite extremity is adapted to engage the opposite molding wall, at least a portion of said strip being yieldable so as to accommodate itself to moldings of various widths.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide fasteners or clips of the type just referred to in which a fastener element or means,

is associated therewith so as to render the sheet metal strip capable of supporting or being supported by a work piece, as for example a sheet panel upon which a molding strip is to be mounted.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the following detailed description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a tapered molding strip showing the application thereto of the fasteners contemplated by the present invention;

Figs. 2 and 3, respectively, are enlarged elevationalviews of two of the molding clips of Fig. 1 illustrating the manner in which a fastener of a given size may be employed in operative association with molding strips of different widths;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the sheet metal clip of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, detached from the molding strip;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a molding clip of modified form equipped with an integral shank adapted to be snapped into the aperture of a supporting structure;

Fig". 7 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line l-| of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the clip of Figs. 7 and 8 detached from the molding strip;

Fig. 10 is an elevational view of a modified clip operatively associated with a molding clip which is shown in longitudinal section, said clip being formed to accommodate a stud;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 illustrating the use of the same molding clip for a molding strip of less width;

Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line l2l2 of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the sheet metal portion of the molding clips illustrated in Figs. 10 to 12 inclusive.

Referring now to the drawing more in detail, wherein like numerals have been employed to designate similar partsthroughout the various figures, Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive illustrate one embodiment of the fastener or clip of the present invention, said clip being designated generally by the numeral 22. This clip 22 is formed from a single sheet of elongated, strip stock which is folded or bent flatwise at the connecting or fulcrum portion 24 to provide a pair of arms 26 and 28. The arm 26 is relatively rigid due to the provision of a longitudinal rib 36 extending over substantially the entire length of the arm. The arm 28 is preferably resilient so as to constantly urge the surface of limited area presented by the curved free extremity of the arm 26 into engagement with one wall of a channeled work piece or molding clip designated generally by the numeral 32. It will be noted that the resilient arm 28 is bowed so as to present an area of limited contact with the opposite wall of the molding strip 32.

Extending from and formed integral with an intermediate portion of the relatively rigid arm 26, is a neck portion 34 supporting a shank 36. This shank 3'5 is adapted to be accommodated by a complementary slot 38 in a work piece or panel 40.

In initially applying the arms 26-28 and their connecting fulucrum portion 24 to the open side of the molding strip 32, said arms are compressed toward each other suffioiently to permit clearance of the opposite extremities thereof through the longitudinal opening of the molding strip positioned between the inturned molding flanges 42. After such insertion the relative yieldability of the arms 26-28 will cause the extremity of the relatively rigid arm 26 to bear against one wall of the molding strip and the free extremity of the other arm 28 to bear against the opposite wall. After these clips have been distributed along the molding strip as for eximpingement.

association with 'a suffix numeral 22b. fspects to the previously described clips 22 and 22a except that the intermediate portion of the I clip 22.

same time cause the cam surface at the free ex- 7 tremity of-the arm 23 tightly to be forced into engagement with one wall of the molding strip.

Thus the rotation of the shank 36 causes the clip arms to be tightened against the molding flanges 42, and said arms will exert strong camming action against the opposed walls of the strip.

It will be apparent from the foregoingdescription that the arms 26-28 may be made from a strip of sheet metal spring stock by practicing conventional forming and stamping methods. It will also be understood that'the engagement of the free extremity of the arm 28 with one wall of the 'moldingstrip tends rotatablyto 'urge the work engaging extremity" of the arm'zs 'into firm impingement with the opposite wall'of the strip. Also anyrotation of the shank 36 in the same direction will tend to increase the aforesaid Figs. 6 to 9 inclusivedisclo'se a modified form of molding clip which is designated generally by the numeral 2212. This clip 22a is similar inevery respect with the previously described clip 22 except that in place of the neck 34 and shank 36 a tubular stud or shank 3 3a and resilient locking fingers Stdare provided. The other elements of the fastener 22a are designated by numerals corresponding with similar structures of .the'fastener 22 except that these numerals are used in a. The clip 22a is insertable between opposed walls of thestrip 40 ina manner previously described in connection with the clip 22. The fastener portion extending axially 'of the arms 2'6a28a is in the form of a snap fastener, adapted to be inserted Within a cylindrical work aperture. Upon complete insertionf'of the shank portion Within the cylindrical work aperture the fingers 36a spring'outwardlyso' as to engage the adjacent side of the Work pie-ce or panel dd as clearly shown in Figs. '7

and 8.

In Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive a still further modification of the fastener member or clip is' disclosed; said clip being designated generally by the The clip 2% is similar in all rearm 26!) is provided with a struck-out portion 44 's'oas to provide a screw or stud accommodating aperture'fi. In Figs. 10 to 12 inclusive the screw member or stud Mb and complementary nut 36b is disclosed and this studperforms the same function as the snap-in type fastener 3441-3611 of the clip 22d and the fastener 3436 of the Numerals bearing the sufix b have been applied to the disclosures of the clip 22b to identify structures corresponding with similar structures of the clips 22-22(1.

From the foregoing it will 'be apparent that the invention contemplates the production of a fastener or clip for channeled-members such as molding strips which may be made from a single strip of metallic spring stock. All of the above Also all of the disclosed embodiments include, in addition to the aforesaid strip, means in association with one of the arms thereof for fastening the clip to a supporting Work structure. The clips contemplated by the present in- V "clips 'of varied widths.

It'will be apparent from the foregoing disclosure that the invention is not limited to the specific structural details described herein, but is capableof other modifications andchanges without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

-The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A spring clip for use with channel-shaped members including a head for traversing the spacebetween opposed walls of a channelledw'ork piece; said head comprisinga strip of sheet metal bent transversely intermediate its ends into 'general ly V-shape and presenting a 'pair of arms diverging from and re'latively shiftable'about the axis cf a yieldable connecting hinge'section, one of said arms constituting a strut member which is relatively rigid as compared with the other arm, saidhinge section having a bearing surface for engaging one of the opposed walls of'said cha n nelled work piece, said relatively rigid strut memher having a bearin surface in the vicinity of its free extremity for engaging the opposite wall of the aforesaid channelled work piece "and adapted to traversethe space between opposed wall surfaces, theother 'of said arms having a free WOrk-engagingektremity movable in a plane substantially nor'nialto the axis of said hinge for urging said rigid a'rmlinto strutting relation with respect to the opposedwalls of said channelled work piece, and a shank positioned intermediate the'extremities of and extending from one of said arms in substantial parallelism to the hingeaxis for accommodatingan aperturedwork piece.

2. A spring clip for use with channel-shaped members as set forth in claim'1,' wherein the shank comprises an integral intermediate extension from the marginof one of the arms.

.3. A' spring clip' for use with channel' shaped members as set forth in claim'Lwherein the shank comprises a tubular snap rastener' structure. a 4. A spring clip' for use with-ichannel-shaped members as Seaman in claim 1, whereinlthe shank'comprises'a screw member supported by one of the arms.

'5. -A spring clip for' use wi-th-channel-shaped members as set forth in claim awnemmonenr the arms is provided with a struck-outportion to provide an aperture for accommodating "the screw'm'ember.

6. A spring clip for use with channel 'shap'ed members asset forth in" claim L'Whereinthe less rigid arm is arched intermediate 'its' extremities so as to present a bearing surface of limited area in the vicinity of the free extremity of said arm.

. OUGLJESA'JULES POUPI'ICH.

nnrnnnnossorrsn The following references are of record in the file of this patent: V

UNITED STATES PATENTS Ghurcliill Nov. 21, 1950 

